GAZA: Israel has imposed widespread evacuation orders in southern Gaza under a promise to “fight with great force” in the area, after under-pressure Hamas called on “anyone who can bear arms” to rise up against US President Donald Trump’s plan to remove Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
A senior Hamas official urged supporters worldwide on Monday to take up weapons and fight plans to displace Gaza’s people, as Israel issued a sweeping evacuation order in the territory’s south, stepping up its renewed offensive.
The idea of forcing Gazans to leave the devastated territory for neighbouring countries such as Egypt and Jordan was first floated by US President Donald Trump, and has since been seized on by right-wing Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who vowed on Sunday to implement it.
“In the face of this sinister plan — one that combines massacres with starvation — anyone who can bear arms, anywhere in the world, must take action,” Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement Monday.
“Do not withhold an explosive, a bullet, a knife, or a stone. Let everyone break their silence.”
AFPTV images showed residents of southern Gaza leaving the area on Monday following the Israeli military’s evacuation order warning of renewed operations.
Some rode in cars piled high with belongings, while others pushed heavy carts and others carried nothing at all.
The order, posted to X by army spokesman Avichay Adraee, included a map showing a swath of southern Gaza in red, including the city of Rafah.
It said the military was “returning to fight with great force to eliminate the capabilities of terrorist organisations in these areas”, urging residents to head to the Al Mawasi area, northwest of Rafah.
“I am currently on foot, there is no transportation, and I do not have the fare for a car ride. As you can see, we have no luggage with us — we left all our belongings behind,” said Ali Mansour, a resident of the city.
Fellow Rafah resident Najah Dhahir, fleeing with her nine-month-old baby, said “they told us we had two hours to evacuate” before the Israeli army arrived.
